“Iraq has no experience with trials lasting more than a few days,” said Roth. Nor does the law permit the appointment of non-Iraqi prosecutors or investigative judges with relevant expertise. The tribunal law does not require that judges and prosecutors have experience working on complex criminal cases and cases involving serious human rights crimes. However, key provisions are lacking to ensure legitimate and credible trials. The tribunal law includes provisions on the rights of the accused and applies definitions of international crimes that are largely consistent with international law. On December 10, the Iraqi Governing Council issued a law establishing a tribunal to try genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity. Human Rights Watch has compiled substantial dossiers on the crimes of the former Iraqi leader, and published numerous reports on human rights abuse under his rule, including genocide and crimes against humanity. For that reason, international jurists must be involved in the process.”
Saddam hussein capture owned trial#
“But it's equally important that the trial not be perceived as vengeful justice. “Saddam Hussein´s capture is a welcome development and it's important that the Iraqi people feel ownership of his trial,” said Kenneth Roth, executive director of Human Rights Watch. Last week, the Iraqi Governing Council created a new tribunal to prosecute the crimes of Iraq´s past.
forces have not announced what they plan to do with the former Iraqi leader, but have previously made clear their support for an Iraqi tribunal to carry out prosecutions for crimes of the past.
Fourth Infantry Division took Saddam Hussein into custody yesterday. The Iraqi Governing Council must not mount a political show trial of Saddam Hussein, Human Rights Watch warned today.